Hello & welcome

Here is my report for the Southern Area and South Coast SSB Net, held on Thursday 13/08/2026

The start time for the net is about 19:30 UTC or 20:30 BST 🕣 and can finish from 22:00 UTC or 23:00 BST 🕚 onwards. It is held on 27.395 MHz LSB or channel 39 on the CEPT/FCC allocation.

I was set up in a hot, sticky Radio Corner, located in Ashdown 🌳 Forest, in the county of East Sussex. Thanks to a cool breeze, the night did become more comfortable.
Operating conditions were the old version 3 Anytone AT-6666, powered by a car battery 🔋 and the Solarcon A-99 sending out about 40 watts into the atmosphere.

In no particular order, here is my list of check in's and who heard and or worked who. All stations are 26 division unless otherwise stated.

1. WM 64 - Mark - Pease Pottage A23 mobile 🚗 - West Sussex 🥇
2. RU 08 - Rod - Hereford - Herefordshire
3. 178 CT 009 - "Mountain" Mike - Bulgaria
4. CT 3678 - Dave - Bedlam - West Sussex
5. CT 1074 - Mike - Brighton - East Sussex
6. Speed Bird - Russell - Reigate Hill - Surrey
7. CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
8. XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
9. CW 443 - Kris - Upper Beeding - West Sussex
10. Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex
11. CT 4515 - John - Ditchling Beacon - East Sussex
12. DT 372 - John - Pinner - Northwest London
13. CT 940 - Richard - Reigate Town - Surrey
and me
14. CI 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌳 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Contact of the night was Rod 26 RU 08 getting across to Mike 178 CT 009 a distance of about 1425 miles or 2294 km

That you all who called in on a hot sticky night and to the listening station glued to the radio for titbits to gossip about.
Sorry if you tried and didn't get in the log. The first hour we were plagued by strong SSB stations from Italy who wanted to talk, but sadly didn't want to DX to the UK

Now for the Numbers of the Night

2 Countries worked (26 & 178 division)
14 in the log
1 Can of Coke drunk
4 counties worked
1 London borough worked
1 QSL Card received

After a brief exchange of texts, here is my AI generated picture of "Mountain" Mike out for the net.



That wraps up this report

Best 73

Ray 2290 with the pen and paper 📝

16 weeks. . . .

Quote from: 14FRS119 Jacky on Aug 14, 2026, 11:58 PMIt was a pleasure to see the last solar éclipse of my life with my wife and my son.
But i find that in 1999 the éclipse was much spectacular.

Best 73

Yes 1999 was spectacular & very spooky.
I was on my way to work & people were saying "It's the end of the world".

It was a pleasure to see the last solar éclipse of my life with my wife and my son.
But i find that in 1999 the éclipse was much spectacular.

Best 73

Hear Ye Hear Ye

Here is another episode of "Ray Reviews" the Channel 14, South Coast, Monday Night PMR Net, held on Monday 10th of August 2026.

The net is scheduled to start at Eight Thirty Post Meridiem 🕣 and finish anytime form Eleven Post Meridiem 🕚. It sometimes goes on until Zero Zero Thirty Ante Meridiem 🕧.

My location for the net was a busy Radio Corner, Ashdown 🌲 Forest in the county of East Sussex, or location TQ 46854 31100.

The net can be found on PMR analogue channel 14 or 446.16875 MHz. No codes or "privacy" tones are used making the net open to all, even listening stations.

My set up for the net was the battery 🔋 powered CRT SPACE U and the new "Sputnik" GPA which had a near perfect SWR but was lacking in both the receive and transmit department. So I swapped over to the "Dean" made di-pole on a fibreglass pole.

With the when, where and what time sorted.
Time for me to unroll my scroll and list all the check in's and who heard and or worked who.

1. R J - Russell - Reigate Town - Surrey 🥇
2. CT 3466 - "Radar" Ray - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
3. Dragon Slayer 1 - Prue - Reigate Hill - Surrey
4. CT 940 - Richard - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Prue
5. CT 3678 - Dave - Bignor Hill - West Sussex
6. CT 5480 - Jonny 5 - Plumpton - East Sussex - Working a handy
7. RHP 185 - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
8. CT 4610 - Andy - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
9. Delta 31 - Adam - Hastings - East Sussex
10. CT 4013 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
11. Lima 93 - Luke - Reigate Hill - Surrey
12. Caz 95 - Caz - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Luke and keeper of Doggy
13. CT 1829 - Dean - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
14. Charlie - Lewes - East Sussex
15. CT 4362 - Chris - Reigate Town - Surrey
16. DDB 66 - Tony - Brighton - East Sussex
17. XR 41 - Jerry - Hailsham - East Sussex
18. CT 4515 - John - Area 45 - Somewhere on Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
19. MB 01 - Marshal - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Motor bike mobile 🏍
20. Ollie - Reigate Hill - Surrey - Shotgun with Marshal 🏍
21. CT 5363 - Shaggy - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
22. C V M - Nigel - Crowborough - East Sussex
23. CT 5502 - Paul - Reigate Hill - Surrey
24. FB 228 - Martin H - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
25. CT 5464 - Matt not in the Garage - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex - Shotgun with Martin and working a handy
26. Tango 187 - Toby - Area 45 - Somewhere on Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
27. Speed Bird - Russell - Reigate Hill - Surrey
and me
28. CT 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Thank you all who called in, listen in and join the net.
Sorry if you tried and wasn't heard, give it a try another night and maybe try calling in after 21:00 Hrs 🕘 when it starts to calm down.

Before the scores on the doors, here is a on this date in history.

1996 saw the release of Internet Explorer 3.0
1642 saw the discovery of Mars's southern polar cap
Film director Alfred Hitchcock born on this date
1977 saw the first test glide of the space shuttle

Now for the Scores on the Doors

3 or more stations trying handhelds
28 In the log
8 Stations on Reigate Hill
3 Counties worked
0 London boroughs worked
8 Stations across Ashdown Forest

With my quill running out of ink, I must bid you adieu until next time

Best 73

Ray 2290 with the ink, quill and scroll 📝

Well done John, a brilliant set of pics!  

Hello Everyone

As promised a couple pic's from the eclipse .Enjoy



A couple of sun spots in that one can you spot them LOL



The finale . I think it was about 94-95% percent eclipse .
Happy days best 73's John CT4515

Hello Everyone.

Just thought to add a pic of the beam in action from Cissbury Ring Car Park. Some very different results than to my usual Hilltop but still very enjoyable.


Best 73's CT4515 John

Quote from: CT4013 on Aug 08, 2026, 12:30 PMAs I don't venture out much now, I for one will not!

But Ray, it's almost 3 months away or have I got that wrong?

Yeah I know, but I thought putting it out there early might generate some interest

Hello and welcome

Here is my report for the Southern Area & South Coast SSB Net held on the 06/08/2026

My location for the net was a cool, clear, warm Ashdown 🌲 Forest in the county of East Sussex. This near the towns of Crowborough and is best know as the home of Winnie the Pooh.
My set up was the battery 🔋 powered Anytone AT-6666, pushing a maximum of 40 whiskies out via a Solarcon A-99.

Start time for the net is scheduled for 🕣 20:30/19:30 🕢 UK/UTC time and finishes anytime from 🕚 23:00/22:00 🕙 UK/UTC.
The net is held on channel 39 LSB (27.395 MHz) on the mid-block.

In no particular order, he is my list of check in's and stations that worked and or heard who.
All stations are 26 division unless otherwise stated.

CT 858 - Gary - Horsham - West Sussex - Welcome to the net 👍🥇
CT 4610 - Andy - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex
Joker aka CT 4627 - Steve - Reigate Hill - Surrey
DDB 50 - Allan - Redhill - Surrey
CW 443 - Kris - Upper Beeding - West Sussex
163/26 RU 08 - Rod - Brecon Beacon - Wales
TK 8 - George - Tonbridge - Kent
JS 7 - James - Rochester - Kent
DT 372 - John - Pinner - Northwest London
GE 07 - Rob - Rye - East Sussex
LT 141 - Lee - Wandsworth - Southwest London
TE 310 - Kev - Leigh on Sea - Essex
TE 098 - Glynn - Rochford - Essex - Welcome to the net 👍
TE 027 - Jeff - Near Shoeburyness - Essex - Welcome to the net 👍
XR 41 - Jerry - A22 mobile - East Sussex 🚗
CT 069 - Keith - Rochester - Kent- Welcome to the net 👍
CT 5502 - Paul - Outwood - Surrey - Welcome to the net 👍
And me
CI 2290 - Ray - Ashdown 🌲 Forest - East Sussex - In the Chair 💺

Thank you all who called or checked in.  Thank you to the listening stations like "Mountain" Mike 178 CT 009 who was parked up on a hill with his T2LT.
Band conditions were completely different compared to last week and seemed flat.
Sorry if you tried and wasn't heard or was impatient and didn't wait when acknowledged

Now for the Numbers of the Night

5 New voices on the net
0 drinks consumed
2 countries worked (26 & 168 divisions)
19 In the log
2 London boroughs worked
5 Counties worked

That wraps up my report

Best 73

Ray with the pens & paper 📝

Oh don't forget only about 17 weeks to go. . . .

As I don't venture out much now, I for one will not!

But Ray, it's almost 3 months away or have I got that wrong?